A Little Reading... PaperBackSwap

Do you love to read? I bet you're like me and you can't get enough. Maybe you even have a bookshelf (or two?) full of books you have already read, just waiting for someone new to be able to enjoy them.

I have been a member of PaperBackSwap for about 5 years now and I have been continually impressed with the service. The site is basically a book swapping service located online. The concept is simple: You post your books you no longer want (10 books to sign up and you get 2 credits to start!) For every book that is requested from you, you get one credit. Every book you request costs you one credit. Simple.

Once a book is requested from you, you must print out a mailing label (all you need is a printer at home), send it to the person on the label, and mark it 'sent' in the system. You pay for shipping the book to the person who requested it (if you send it Media Mail this may cost you somewhere between $2-$3 for each book.)

When you request a book, all you do it request it from the other member and sit back and wait for it to arrive. You will get an email notification when it is marked 'sent' but the other member.

Easy, right? Other services they provide are an online wishlist, private messaging between members, reviews, and an online market where your credits can count towards buying books that are not listed in the system. The wishlist is especially useful and I use it often. You can add a book to your wishlist, and once it is posted, you are offered the book before anyone else is. You can request it or deny it, but you are always given the first chance to request that title. If there are multiple people wishing for the book you may have a while to wait, but you can also tell how many other people are wishing for the same title.

If you are a book lover like me (not just paperback, they have hard cover books too) then definitely check out paperbackswap.com. If you sign up and would like to give me referral credit you can put in my nickname if you would like: SAM52706.

This service is completely free except for the shipping charges you pay when sending out a book. Be sure to sign up now and take advantage since the service may not remain free in the future (they anticipate a $10-$20 yearly membership fee, which is extremely reasonable to me!)

A Little Holiday Cards... Simple Card

Simple Card is a great site that completely simplifies your Christmas Card creation while still giving you tons of options. If you are new to online card-making this site is perfect for you. Or, maybe you like to design your own cards (like me), this site is perfect for you too!

The site is super easy to navigate and choose your favorite design. The layout is clean and simple and full of card options for not only your holiday cards, but card designs throughout the year. They are offered in multiple sizes and either a postcard style or a folded card so that you can write on the inside, depending on what you prefer.


There are a few different types of cards provided so you are free to pick whichever design works best for you.

The first is a 'design-your-own' card. This is the type that I choose since I love to design my own cards. I used some brushes in Photoshop and created a simple holiday thank you card (maybe having these will force me to send thank you cards this year!) After looking up the size and quality requirements of the card on the website (so easy to find... located on the design page of the card at the top) I saved my card and had it uploaded and ready to order in minutes. This was honestly the easiest process I've experienced ordering custom cards online.


I love the way my cards turned out. I got the postcard version and will be writing on the back of the cards with my note of thanks. The postcards are very high quality and printed on a nice thick stock. They are glossy on both sides, so if you would like to write on the back of the postcards like me I recommend getting a pen or marker that writes well on glossy surfaces (the Slick Writer by American Crafts is perfect for this and you can find it at most craft stores.)


Another type of card they provide is one which you drop in a photo in a template. Some families (like mine!) love to include photos in their Christmas cards and this is a great way to incorporate a favorite photo of your family. You choose the design, upload the photo, and that's it! You can also customize the card's text with your family name using a variety of fonts.


They also provide pre-designed cards which are also customizable with your own greeting and name in the font you choose.


Last is a pre-designed card which is completely designed for you and all you have to do is pick your favorite. The majority of these are located in their archive of images to add to your card. Choose the first design as though you were going to upload your own photo and then choose the option to pick an image from the gallery. These range from beautiful and elegant to modern and fun.

They also provide some really great humor cards that I love. This Spiked Eggnog card is definitely my favorite. :)

Simple Card also provides options to order envelopes ($1.50 for 25) as well as a gift box to hold the cards and envelopes (also $1.50). These rates are very reasonable and definitely worth the little extra if you don't have envelopes on hand. The gift box would be perfect to be able to print a set of cards and give them to a friend as a gift.

I would definitely recommend Simple Card to anyone who wants an easy to print and send their holiday cards this year. It's really easy and won't take you long to receive a great set of cards in the mail to send to your loved ones! They will even print and send your cards for you so you can skip that step! Imagine how easy that would be!


Disclosure: I was provided 25 free postcards free of charge in exchange for my review. The opinions represented in this post are purely mine and based on my experience ordering from this company. I have not otherwise been compensated for this post.

A Little Cleaning... Jetted Tubs

When we bought our new house I was almost more excited to have a Whirlpool Tub than I was to be a homeowner. I love baths and often indulge in a very relaxing soak with a book to keep me company. It's marvelous, especially in the winter.

If you are a fan of bubble baths, you know what I mean. If you have a jetted tub you also know that they can get dirty pretty easily. Soap scum can build up in the pipes which feed the jets and can provide you with some black specks of scum to float around with you in your tub. I know, YUCK!

I did a little research online and found a few recipes for cleaners, but one product stood out. It's called WhirlOut and I was able to find some at my local Home Depot. The jug was around $8 and worth every penny. (You can also find it online but it may be more economical to pick it up locally to avoid shipping costs.)

Following the instructions on the back I filled my tub and put in about half the container near the intake in my tub and let it run on medium for about 5 minutes. I then drained my tub (I thought to take a photo of all the nastiness that it flushed out of the pipes but it was just so icky I knew no one would want to see that. Just know that you can tell that it has worked once you turn the jets off and the water settles a little. Ew.)

Be sure to follow the instuctions carefully. Once you drain the tub once you must refill it and run the jets again to flush the chemicals out of the system. The cleaner is not (I repeat, NOT) safe for your skin and if you leave it in the tub and then get in the water it could really harm your skin.

After running it the first time I have supplemented it a few times using about a half cup (or more) of the powder when I notice any build up returning. I typically do this after a bath since the tub is already filled.

I will likely end up trying a more 'homemade' recipe in the future (using different types of cleaner all together and repeating the same process) but I am hesitant since WhirlOur is very low-foam. If you have ever put bubble bath into your jetted tub you know that the bubbles get really high, really fast! You don't want a cleaner to foam too much if you are running it through your system for multiple minutes.

A Little Collecting... Squished Pennies

Everyone has likely seen them. They pop up in places like Zoos and Aquariums. Maybe your kids have begged you for 51 cents to be able to squish a penny to take home. Maybe you have no idea what I'm talking about...? Either way, I'm about to give you a short introduction to seeking out penny machines like the ones above and collecting squished pennies.

They are actually called a lot of things... squished pennies, elongated pennies, elongated coins (or EC's), souvenir pennies, and many more. As with any form of collecting, there are multiple ways to collect squished pennies; some collectors are a little (or a lot!) more intense than others.

A very helpful resource for me has been the PennyCollector.com website. They go into great detail about how to clean your pennies, the history of squished pennies, and much more.


The BEST feature on this website is that they provide a list of locations. I bet there are penny machines close to your home that you don't even know are there! The locator is organized by state and then by city. They even have user-submitted photos of the pennies you will find in specific locations. I always check out this locator before traveling to a new place. If I have plans to visit a specific area I will check to see if there are any machines there so I can keep my eyes peeled! Some locations have more machines than others... I recently brought home a hand full of squished pennies from Disney World (photo above!) Finding all the machines became like a scavenger hunt for us!

Along with pennies, you will likely find a few (or more!) options for penny collector books. You can get generic books in many locations like the ones above.

Or you can find books that are specific to the area you are visiting. These book usually range in price from $5 to $8 each. Depending on how many pennies you are planning to squish, it's sometimes fun to buy a book to keep them all in! I got these on trips to New York City and San Francisco (and yes, they are full!)

I tend to squish all the pennies in one machine to put in my book. Some people prefer to just collect their favorites from each machine, and some people will even go as far as only squishing pennies that were minted in a specific year (their birthday, wedding day, etc.)

One important fact that some people definitely take into account is that the US changed the way they make pennies in 1982. Pennies minted prior to 1982 were made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Starting in '82 they switched the ratio to 99% zinc and 1% copper, so the penny is made of a zinc core and plated in copper on the outside. This is visible in pennies that you squish which were minted after 1982.


See the silver color shadowing the imprinted image? That is the zinc core showing through after your penny has been squished. Some collectors (like me!) only use pennies which were minted before 1982 to avoid this.

See how the impression on this penny is uniform in color? I used a penny minted before 1982. This is definitely a personal preference since older pennies tend to not be as shiny, though there are way to clean them.

One Christmas my husband, knowing I wanted to start collecting them, gave me a penny book and a bag full of pre-1982 pennies! That may sound odd, but it was incredibly thoughtful and, at the time, I had no idea which pennies were ideal for the machines! It was definitely the beginning of a fun new hobby!

This would be a great collection to start with your kids! They could each have their own collector's book and get to pick a penny from each machine you encounter! Plus, at 51 cents each, it's a very affordable souvenir!

A Little Idea... Save with Deal-a-Day Coupon Sites

Have you heard of those coupon sites that offer a deal a day? If you live in a metro area, you have likely heard of Groupon or Living Social. Many companies are following in their footsteps and offering a deal every day for your city.

Whether it is 50% at your favorite restaurant, show tickets, or a massage, it's easy to find something you can use on these sites. I have purchased many of these deals and I can say that I absolutely love the concept. It's been a good way to get deals on items I would have purchased anyway and also experience new things in my city that I wouldn't have otherwise thought of doing.

Just some examples of coupons I have purchased and loved: A Segway tour of the city, a dozen gourmet cupcakes, make my own wine (30 bottles!), aquarium tickets, and a bunch more!

Groupon - Featuring 95 cities and also a handy iPhone App so that you don't have to remember to print your coupons in order to use them! Also features a discussion for each deal which helps to clarify questions customers may have about the terms (very helpful!) Also includes 22 other countries.
Living Social - Deals on this site are typically 50% off. Featuring 62 cities including two in Europe as well as a comprehensive iPhone App and discussion forums.

Buy with Me - Featuring 10 cities and growing. Often offers more than one deal a day for select cities.

Other sites I haven't tried yet but offer the same type of service:
Adility
CrowdSavingsSocialBuy
Scout Mob

Have you ever tried any of these sites? What was the best deal you've gotten?

A Little Food... The Minnesota State Fair

It's that time of year everyone! 12 days before Labor Day is the first day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, otherwise known as the Minnesota State Fair. Held in St. Paul, Minnesota at the 320 acre state fairgrounds; if you haven't ever been to the fair, you can imagine just how big that really is. (Also imagine that the Dairy Association serves 20,000 gallons of free milk over those 12 days. That's a lot of milk!)


I first moved to Minnesota in October, just about a month shy of the State Fair. So, this summer when I told people I had never been, I typically got a dropped jaw and a "what? really?!?!" To live in the Twin Cities and never have experienced the fair is apparently unacceptable. :-)

What you hear most about the Minnesota State Fair is the food. It's 'fair food' at it's finest. The choices are unlimited (as are the calories!) but that is, after all, part of the reason it only comes along once a year. Below are my top three favorite fair foods that I tried this weekend:

Fried Cheese Curds: An essential part of the fair experience. These are fried to the most perfect golden brown with gooey insides. They are served HOT and it's very hard to wait until they cool down to eat them.

Mini Donuts: Delicious! Warm and sugary, a good way to get your 'sweets' fix after eating lots of salty food. These guys are perfect for sharing, or devouring yourself. Your call.

Fried Pickles: My absolute favorite fair food! If you don't like pickles, maybe this isn't for you, but if you do, believe me when I say that these are beyond delicious! You can get the original, spicy, or cream cheese filled. Yum!

Honorable mentions:
Pronto Pups - Similar to a corn dog but with a flour-based batter instead of cornmeal.
French Fries - Just classic and delicious.And of course, beer - Summit Brewery is in St. Paul and there is no shortage of cold beer at the grounds.

What are your favorite fair foods?

A Little Breakfast... My Favorite Waffle Iron

When my husband and I were creating our registry for our wedding 'a really nice waffle iron' was at the top of the list. I found one I really liked at JCPenney and added it right away. It was one of those cool Belgian-style ones that flip over (like the ones in college dining halls... remember?) I was beside-myself excited when I saw that someone had bought it from my registry and couldn't wait to try it out! My opportunity actually came before my wedding since a good friend thought I should have it (and be able to enjoy it) before leaving for my honeymoon. Apparently she understood my enthusiasm.

We used that waffle iron nearly every morning for the next week before our wedding and loved it. When we returned home from our honeymoon and looked though our gifts (we had stayed with my parents house the week of the wedding) I was missing my waffle iron. I called my Mom and told her I had left it at her house by mistake. She admitted that she had kept my waffle iron because she wanted one too. She ordered me a new one and had it sent to me the next week, but she didn't want to give up MY waffle iron... that's how good this thing is! (And, how crazy my Mom is... she totally kept one of MY wedding gifts! Hehe.)


So, if you are in the market for a great waffle iron that soaks up the syrup just right, makes light and fluffy waffles, and one you may just have to lock up so your relatives can't steal it... I definitely recommend this one! (Find it at JCPenney, Best Buy, or Kohl's.)

A Little Decorating... DIY Prints to Hang in Your Home

My husband and I just bought a house.  (Squeeeeee!!!!!!)  We have officially owned our very first house for a couple weeks now and the boxes are slowly becoming empty and the place is starting to feel like a home.  Now comes the fun part!  Making it OURS. 

I am a firm believer of living with items that hold meaning.  I try to purchase things that either inspire me or remind me of something happy.  The decorative plates in my kitchen remind me of that vineyard my husband and I went to in Napa Valley.  That photo of the lake reminds of my summer vacations in Maine.  The lamp on the end table reminds me of home and how my parents made us that lamp for our one-year wedding anniversary.  Everything has a meaning... everything evokes emotion.

That being said, here are a few ways you can personalize your space with printable decor that is inspiring and meaningful.  Versions of these are sure to find their way into my home (as soon as I find the box I put my color printer in... hmmm...)  :-)

Custom Eye Exam Chart
The creator of this print (a very talented blogger named Tammy from She Wears Flowers) has offered it as a editable file.  You can personalize this print with whatever text you would like (using Photoshop or Word files).  Think, your family's names, a favorite poem or quote... endless possibilities. 


Keep Calm Poster
If you haven't seen this poster around, you are definitely missing out!  With this poster creator you choose your text, background color, poster size, font, image, basically everything!  Too cool.  Along with the very common (and amazing) Keep Calm and Carry On you could add Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake, Keep Calm and Knit On, or anything you identify with.  (And if you know me at all, I identify with cupcakes!  Hehe.)

Inspiring Quote Prints
Over at Make it Perfect they showcased the work of a talented designer named Leanne who was nice enough to share a number of free art prints with blog readers.  There are so many good ones here!  A simple design with lots of meaning... my favorite kind of art.  Definitely click over to see all 15 prints (fifteen!) 

I hope you find these links useful and inspiring!  If you use any of these be sure to comment here to let us know and also on the original designers blog to let them know you appreciate their work!  :-)

A Little Photography... Using Actions to Enhance Photos

Have you been looking for a way to give your photos a little something extra?  Maybe you want to boost the colors in your photos before adding them to your scrapbooks or home decor?  I do this using Photoshop Actions and I always love the results.  Actions are super simple to use and (the ones I use) are completely free!  All you need is Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and a photo to get started!

First, download (the wonderfully talented) Pioneer Woman's Photoshop Actions.
Second, load them into Photoshop.  If you have never done this before search your Help Menu for "load actions."  This will be different for different versions of Photoshop.

Finally, open your photo and apply some actions by selecting the Action you would like and pushing the 'play' button at the bottom of the Actions toolbar.

I sometimes use Photoshop's Auto Levels command before applying any Actions, depending on the photo.  I then start off with the Boost Action and go from there.  It's easy to revert back to the original photo using the built in "Start All Over!" Action. (Makes playing around so easy!)

Here are some examples of photos I have enhanced using Pioneer Woman's Actions:

Actions used on this photo: Boost, Warmer, Quick Edge Burn

Actions used on this photo: Boost, Cooler, Lovely and Ethereal

 Actions used on this photo: Boost, Cooler, Lovely and Ethereal

Photo credits: My friend Kristen took these while she was visiting me this Spring. :-)

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Note on software: Adobe Photoshop itself is fairly expensive (around $700) and meant for some pretty intense (and professional) graphic design and photo editing.  Photoshop Elements is a much less expensive option ($80) and perfect for scrapbookers or people like you who just want to have fun with the photos you take.  The Actions I linked to above are for Photoshop, however you can find the version for Photoshop Elements here.

A Little Crafty... The Easiest Necklace You Will Ever Make!

I love (love!) making my own jewelry.  It always makes me smile when someone compliments a piece of jewelry I am wearing and I can say, "Thanks so much, I actually made it." 

Even better?  When that piece only takes about 15 minutes to make!  I've put together this little tutorial so that you can make your own!

First, gather your supplies.  You will need:
 - Two pairs of jewelry making pliers (for working with jump rings)
 - About 20 inches of beading wire
 - Jump rings
 - 2 crimp beads
 - Necklace Clasp
 - Beads (I used all the same color)

Second, string your beads onto your wire and secure with crimp beads and loops on each end.  (If you are new to beading check out this short video on how to secure crimp beads.) 

Next, use jump rings to make a chain so that your necklace is adjustable.  (You could also use a piece of chain you already have on hand as long as the clasp will fit through the holes of the chain.)  Attach the chain and the clasp to the loops you created with your crimp beads.

And you're done!  A simple necklace made in minutes!

You could easily buy beads in different colors and make one necklace for every outfit you own!  I think I may make a sky blue version next.

A Little Typography... 3 Great (Free!) Fonts

I'm one of those people who just loves fonts. All types and all sizes, I can imagine a use for them all. I use fonts for all kinds of projects including scrapbooking, card making, invitations, blogging, and much more. There are unlimited possibilities! Below are three of my favorite fonts to use for different purposes. They are all free to download and use on your personal projects.

Pea Matt & Kari | Download Here

 

Clementine Sketch | Download Here

Veteran Typewriter | Download Here


I hope you like the fonts I have picked to share with you!


Tell me, what is your favorite font?